Department for Education

Teachers: Training

Lord Addington: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the announced changes to the initial teacher training criteria, whether the Teacher Standards will also be changed to reflect the increased emphasis on issues such as special educational needs and child development.

Lord Nash: The Teachers’ Standards state that a teacher must adapt teaching to respond to strengths and needs of all pupils, including by having a clear understanding of the needs of all pupils including those with special educational needs; and by demonstrating an awareness of the physical, social and intellectual development of children, and knowing how to adapt teaching to support pupils’ education at different stages of development. Following a review of the quality of initial teacher training (ITT) by Sir Andrew Carter, the Secretary of State last year commissioned an expert group, chaired by Stephen Munday CBE, to develop a framework of core content for ITT. This will help to ensure that key areas of training identified by Sir Andrew, including special educational needs, are appropriately addressed in the initial training period for new teachers. Stephen Munday’s expert group will report to Ministers shortly. On Wednesday 16 March, The National College for Teaching and Leadership published an updated version of the ITT Criteria, which combined the statutory guidance and supporting advice into a single document to improve clarity. Some routine and minor amendments were made to the supporting advice to assist ITT providers. These related to safeguarding arrangements, middle years programmes, and secondary subjects that are typically offered in schools in only one Key Stage. NCTL also included advice for ITT providers on the Government’s Prevent strategy.

Ministry of Justice

Courts: Closures

Lord Beecham: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what savings they estimate will derive from their courts closure programme; and how much, and over what period, they plan to invest in technology to reduce the demand for court facilities in the justice system.

Lord Faulks: The Impact Assessment published alongside the consultation document outlines estimated savings of £170m over a 10-year period. The Government is committed to modernising the way in which justice is accessed and delivered. We are investing over £700m over the next 4 years to update the court and tribunal estate, installing modern IT systems and making the justice system more efficient and effective for modern users.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

Overseas Trade

Lord Hunt of Chesterton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what has been the average time in post of Trade Ministers of Her Majesty’s Government in (1) the last five years, and (2) the five years before that.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: The average tenure of Ministers for Trade & Investment from 2011 until the departure of my noble Friend Lord Maude in March 2016 is 628 days or approximately 1 year, 8 months.The average tenure of Ministers for Trade & Investment between 2006 and 2011 was 342 days or approximately 11 months.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Pate de Foie Gras

Lord Stunell: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will review animal welfare policy and regulations, in particular with regard to the welfare of ducks in the production of foie gras overseas that is then imported and sold within the UK.

Lord Gardiner of Kimble: Foie gras using force feeding gives rise to serious welfare concerns, which is why its production is banned in the UK under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. The EU has already introduced controls on the production of foie gras and, therefore, as a matter of EU law, any further action must be taken at an EU level, and not individually by Member States. Additionally we have to be mindful of our obligations under the EU Treaty in relation to the free movement of goods. Ultimately, it is for the consumer to decide whether or not to purchase foie gras.